Khabib Nurmagomedov defends Umar after Merab Dvalishvili calls UFC 311 fight a ‘gift’

After six straight wins in the bantamweight division, Umar is set to challenge champion Merab Dvalishvili in the co-main event of UFC 311. Dvalishvili, who needed to win 10 straight before his first title fight , wasn’t much of a fan of Nurmagomedov getting the opportunity after a win over a ranked contender in Cory Sandhagen.

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Dvalishvili called the title fight a “gift” for Nurmagomedov, seeing as he didn’t go through the same challenge of contenders as him, and Umar’s obvious connection to his cousin Khabib.

Preparing Umar for war and in his corner, the legendary champion who retired undefeated at 29-0, Khabib would respond to Dvalishvili calling Umar’s title shot a gift.

“It’s his problem, Merab’s problem,” Nurmagomedov said (via MMA from the red corner). “I think at the beginning of his career he was acting well. I think when he became champion he can’t handle that because his life changes. Before the champion and after the champion, there are two lives. We have to deal with that.”

“About Umar’s ‘gift,’ Umar is 18-0 and he has six straight wins in the UFC and they are giving him a very tough opponent. Last fight, five round main event against Cory Sandhagen. I think he ‘Umar deserves (title fight). I don’t know why Merab is nervous, but I think Umar deserves to be here, not because he’s my cousin. He’s here because he has. 18-0 and 6-0 wants to create his legacy on January 18, he will show why Merab is nervous.

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